It will be India’s men’s hockey team who will be aiming to clinch the Asian Champions Trophy 2024 for the fifth time when they take on the hosts China in the final on Tuesday. The defending champions have been in a superb display in the tournament, having not lost a match in the group phase and then defeating South Korea 4-1 in the semi-finals.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh has been very effective in scoring goals from the penalty corner while the forward line of Mandeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and Akashdeep Singh have been very lethal in front of the goal post.
India’s midfield led by the captain Manpreet Singh have been able to dominate the match and balance between the defensive and the attacking players. In goal, Krishan Pathak has been a good find replacing the great PR Sreejesh who has retired from international hockey.
China, on the other hand have even surpassed expectations by making it to their first ever Asian Champions Trophy final. The hosts defeated Pakistan in a penalty shootouts in the semifinals after the match was tied 1-1 in the normal time.
Although they will be ranked lowly against the powerful Indians, China will count on home advantage and will seek an upset. In the group stage, when both teams had faced each other India had won by 3-0 but knock out stages are different.
For India, this tournament was the start of a new journey which will begin after the retirement of players like Sreejesh. This is also their first competition since claiming bronze at the Tokyo Olympics last year. A title here will not only help to strengthen their position as the rulers of the continent but will also set them on the right note for the preparation of the next year’s world cup.
It will please coach Graham Reid to see that some of the young players have slotted into the team very smoothly. Players like Abhishek and Jugraj Singh have displayed their abilities to some extent and with more exposure at this level will definitely grow into better players.
China has been one of the teams that have improved so fast and has been a revelation in this tournament. With the help of a proficient South Korean trainer, Shin Seok-kyo, the team has improved its tiki-taka both tactically and technically.
While playing in defense, Captain Meng Dihao has been quite stable and composed and forward E Wenhui has displayed great skills in dribbling and goal scoring. This is already a great accomplishment for China, but the team will be more than desperate to step further and become the first Asian Champions Trophy winners in their home country.
The last one is expected to be an interesting tactical affair with India’s flair attacking line going up against China’s solid defensive wall. India, a better side on the overall and especially in big-match experience should come through but cannot take the Chinese side lightly who appear to have nothing to lose.
Large number of fans is expected to turn up at the Hulunbuir Stadium for what is expected to be a befitting finale to an entertaining competition. For India it would mean that they would retain their position as the masters of hockey in Asia. Even if they manage to get India close enough to them, it will be a great achievement and something that would make the Chinese proud of their team’s performance in world hockey.